Despite Olympic joy, Croatia has serious questions to answer

NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) - The word ‘surprise’ has become synonymous with Croatia during the last 12 months. But, having now qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time in their modest history, surprise is no longer an adjective fit for purpose.
 
Just ask head coach Stipe Bralic. The exploits of his team in achieving a fifth-place finish last year at EuroBasket Women and their newly-attained Olympic status is no surprise whatsoever.
 
Whilst I can’t describe their performance in Poland last summer as anything but a surprise because of their previous record and the number of injuries they had to contend with, I did travel to the Turkish capital a couple of weeks ago fully expecting them to progress – and they did.
 
Therefore it’s time to recognise that Croatia has arrived in the big time and I for one am pledging to stop using the word surprise from this point onwards.
 
Mind you, Croatia didn’t perform well in Turkey. They were mediocre offensively and at times were poor executing on offense. They can play much better. However, they did it defensively and punched their ticket which, quite frankly, is all that matters when you step out at an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
 
I doubt that Croatia has yet to come down from the emotional highs of making it to London. I wouldn’t blame them if this was the case but reality is about to bite seriously hard.
 
There are some major questions Croatia must now answer - as individuals and as a women’s basketball nation.
 
Now that they no longer have that slight element of surprise, they will surely find it harder to sustain their rise to prominence. Future opponents will inevitably be more thoroughly prepared and I am wondering whether they can they find the solutions and mental strength to deal with this.
 
Reaching the elite level is one thing – staying there and doing yourself justice is another altogether.
 
I say this with not only London in mind, but specifically in relation to EuroBasket Women 2013 in France. They can’t just be tourists when they step out in the British capital and see this as a highlight of their respective careers.

We also don’t know if the likes of Sandra Mandir for example will be tempted to call it a day after London. I seriously hope not. Indeed I absolutely implore Croatia to stay together as a team and go to France next year to prove a point. To show they can not only improve on their fifth-place finish in Poland but that they could even be a semi-finalist and flirt with the podium.
 
London can’t and shouldn’t be a watershed moment for Croatia. It needs to be just the next destination on a special journey which the players should continue to relish. I really hope no players ask for a break next summer after this highlight and that playing in the Olympics will give them an extra taste for success.
 
The second and undoubtedly most important question Croatia must answer is whether the required level of investment and resources are being put into women’s basketball at youth level, and whether the plans for the future need to be adjusted.
 
It’s not for me to tell any Federation where to prioritise - of course it isn’t. Croatia has done a remarkable job on the court but the current players deserve to be supported by a solid foundation which can continue their good work well into the next decade. 
 
I should be heading to Hungary this summer and watching a Croatian U20 team at the European Championships. Only there isn’t one.
 
I understand Croatia isn’t a big nation with vast resources and that hard decisions have to be made in terms of spending limited basketball budgets.
 
But, with so much good work being carried out, it would be a real shame if Croatian basketball did not seize the moment and pour even more effort into improving the women’s game domestically with more pathways for young players.
 
Commercially it may not stack up and I recognise this hard-nosed approach. But with such a limited pool of registered female players to choose from, there is no better time to increase the number of young women ballers out there.
 
The mainstream Croatian media also needs to sit up and take notice. They should offer these players, (Olympians no less) some serious respect and exposure (something sadly lacking in the past) not only this summer, but beyond.
 
As someone who genuinely loves to watch this Croatian senior national team play, I really hope the stunning work of Coach Bralic and the players doesn’t ultimately prove to be a glorious but all too short lived era. A relatively small nation but now with a number of role models for young Croatian girls interested in sport to look up to, opportunity knocks loudly.
 
I will be watching with real interest how this unfolds – not just in coming months but during the next few years and even beyond that.
 
Paul Nilsen

FIBA

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.